Tobar an Dualchais - Kist O Riches

Title - Biographical information and family history; scrap dealers;...
Contributors - Belle Stewart; Alec Stewart
Reporters - Prof. James Porter
Item Person - Stewart, Alec; Stewart, Belle; Burke, Willie; Proctor family; Proctor, Alec; Stewart, Charlie; Stewart, John

Summary - Biographical information and family history; scrap dealers; reminiscences of the Proctor family.

Alec Stewart talks about his father, John Stewart, a piper, and about his own piping. Belle Stewart [Alec's wife] names some tunes John played. Both of Alec's parents spoke some Gaelic. The Logierait ferry was given to Alec's great great uncles when they retired as pipers to the Duke of Atholl. Alec describes the ferry. He and Belle give information about their families.

There is talk of a Traveller, Willie Burke, who became wealthy as a scrap dealer and invested in hotels. The funeral of Charlie Stewart, a scrap dealer from Huntly, is described. There is discussion of how Alec is related to Aberdeenshire Travellers through his grandfather, Auld Jimmy. Jimmy's wife was Kate, and the family were referred to as 'Jimmy-Kate'. People sometimes falsely claim a connection with Jock Stewart. On the other hand, Belle recalls a woman who identified herself as a Gypsy, not a tinker [sic] like the Stewarts. Belle talks about how she feels about being a Traveller.

When Belle was four she was knocked down by a man on a bike. Next day he visited her and gave her two silver sixpences. This man, called Proctor, was a relative by marriage of James Porter. Belle's family worked for Alec Proctor (the brother of the first man). He used to give Belle's brother Andy his old clothes. Belle's family pulled flax, and also worked in the mill putting it through the threshing machine before it was scutched by Irish workers.


Track Duration (h:m:s) - 00:00:11
Date Recorded - 1972.10
Language - English, Scots
Genre - Story, Information
Collection - School of Scottish Studies

Track ID - 102262
Original Tape ID - SA1972.236
Original Track ID - SA1972.236.A1-A7
Audio Quality - Good
Audio Format - R2R


Item Notes -

Permanent Link - http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/102262/1

Segments:
Play part 1 (00:00:11)
Play part 2 (00:12:14)


Tweet